The Navy recognized a local Sailor for his quick thinking and actions to save the life of a man having a heart attack in Coronado.

Lt. Bryan Gordon, the homeport change coordinator at Commander, Naval Surface Force, U. S. Pacific Fleet (CNSP), was riding his bike near the Hotel del Coronado, Oct. 10, when he saw the man lying on the ground with his wife trying to assist him.

“It was apparent that it just happened,” said Gordon, who is from Falmouth, Mass. “I stopped and asked the woman what was happening. She told me that her husband was having a heart attack.”

Gordon hopped off his bike to assist the ailing man. There were no signs of breathing or pulse. Recalling training given at the expeditionary combat skills course in Gulfport, Mississippi, Gordon began CPR.

“I yelled as loud as I could ‘Help!, Help!, Help!’ as I was pushing on his chest,” said Gordon. “I tried breathing in his mouth, but I couldn’t get any air in. I knew from my training that air was not nearly as important as compressions, so I kept doing compressions.”

After a couple of minutes of continuous CPR, other bystanders arrived and identified themselves as doctors, relieving Gordon until emergency services arrived.

“The fire department called me back and said that the man did live, and my quick actions increased his chances of survival significantly,” said Gordon.

CNSP awarded Gordon with the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal for his efforts, which, according to the citation, “demonstrated the sustained superior performance expected from Sailors and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.”

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